Today I wanted to give you some fun ideas for adding texture and dimension to your projects using different types of crafting materials.
One of the easiest ways to add texture, is to cut your dies using textured cardstock. If you cut with plain cardstock and want to add texture, try using some embossing dies. Another quick idea, cut your dies using pattern paper.
There are a variety of texture adding materials out there with adhesive already applied. This makes it much easier to place your items on your project once you cut them. I played around with some of these materials; cork, thin metal, and chipboard, using my CottageCutz dies. The CottageCutz dies cut the different materials wonderfully. Some of the materials worked better if you cut them before you applied the foam to your CottageCutz dies. If you don't want to have to remove foam and re-apply foam, just run the dies through the machine two times. The cork and chipboard are thick enough to add some dimension to the project, as well as texture.
Pop dots or foam dots work great for giving dimension to your projects. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Another idea, is to cut your dies twice and layer them. You can layer them using foam dots or slightly off center, this works great for creating dimension.
One last item I tried was craft foam. I got the craft foam sheets at my local craft store, the brand I used was Foamies, 2mm thick. I thought it would be neat to make my own CottageCutz Foam accents (aka Thickers). The CottageCutz dies cut the craft foam very easily. The craft foam comes in many different colors. This is a great material to use to add both texture and dimension.
Watch for my up coming posts this month. They will feature layouts that I have used some of the above ideas. Hopefully, this will inspire you to add some texture and dimension to your pages.
I hope you get some creative time today.
Karen
My best friend Buddy, The Die. . Puppy in House, by Cottage Cutz. I wanted to create a mini scrapbook look in a frame. The main issues with framing a scrapbook layout is the page will not fit flat on the glass because of all the layers of paper and embellishments. I know it is hard to see, but if you notice how the plaid background does not match on the edge, that is because I cut a MAT in the same plaid background and mounted it on Scotch foam tape. This way the raised mat would create an even height on the outside of the layout. This would make the layout lay flat against the glass on the entire edge. This created a shadow box area in the center to work within. Remember this foam tape / mat frame trick for a layout page that may be causing the album to not close flat when closed. The frame helps the pages stack up better when using a lot of thick embellishments on a special page.. 
Now I was able to do the puppy and the house in several layers and overlaps of paper without there being an issue. Everything lays flat and does not press against the glass.
The other advantage to the mat frame, is the lettering is almost floating. The top of MY BEST is glued to the mat only on the tops of the letters and FRIEND is glued along the bottom of the letters to the mat. This allowed the letters to appear as if they are floating. So how do I solve the dot to the "i", I would have had to stick the dot of the i to the glass or glue it down on the background, than it would not have been floating. . . . notice the cute lettering trick. . . .use the negative of letters, so I used this for the I on the friend. I did not not want the I to stick out alone, so I picked the e from best at the top. To add additional dimension I mounted the red frame for the photo behind the mat, than mounted the frame above the mat on the top. 
